Footwear

ABSTRACT

An insole for a boot or shoe which has an enclosed air containing cavity in at least the heel portion and a valving opening for the cavity. The insole is resiliently deformable to vary the internal volume of the cavity. In use, on application of the wearer&#39;&#39;s weight to the heel portion, the valving opening is closed and the air within the cavity is compressed until equilibrium is achieved. When the wearer&#39;&#39;s weight is transferred from the heel portion to the toe portion, the air can flow out of and into the cavity and the insole resumes its original shape. The invention also provides a boot or shoe which incorporates this insole as an integral portion of the sole of the boot or shoe.

limited States Patent [191 Brown [451 Jan. 15, 1974 1 FOOTWEAR 22 Filed: July 12,1972

211 Appl.No.: 271,112

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 7/1931 Germany 36/29 Primary ExaminerAlfred R. Guest Attorney-McClew & Tuttle [57] ABSTRACT An insole for a boot or shoe which has an enclosed air containing cavity in at least the heel portion and a valving opening for the cavity. The insole is resiliently deformable to vary the internal volume of the cavity. In use, on application of the wearers weight to the heel portion, the valving opening is closed and the air within the cavity is compressed until equilibrium is achieved. When the wearers weight is transferred from the heel portion to the toe portion, the air can flow out of and into the cavity and the insole resumes its original shape. The invention also provides a boot or shoe which incorporates this insole as an integral portion of the sole of the boot or shoe.

24 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures FOOTWEAR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to footwear and to insoles for footwear. More particularly the present invention relates to insoles or soles for boots and shoes which provide a cushioning effect in use.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is known to provide boots and shoes which have inflated air cushions inserted into the soles and heels thereof. It is also known to provide insoles for boots and shoes similarly constructed. Further, it is known to provide what are in effect insoles or soles of a cellular foamed resilient material, the interior of which comprises a plurality of enclosed air containing cavities. Ba-

very often leads to making the shoe or boot unconfortable to wear.

SUMMARY According to this invention there is provided, in an insole for a boot or shoe having a heel portion, a toe portion and an enclosed air containing cavity in at least the heel portion, the insole being resiliently deformable to vary the internal volume of the cavity, the improvement which comprises: a valving opening for the enclosed air containing cavity; and means for closing the valving opening on application of a wearers weight to the heel portion and for opening the valving opening on removal of the wearers weight therefrom.

In one embodiment of the invention the valving opening is merely a hole in the upper part, in use, of the heel portion. As an alternative to the single hole, it is envisaged that a plurality of pin holes may be used as a valving opening.

According to this invention there is further provided in a shoe a sole, the sole having a heel portion, a toe portion and an enclosed air containing cavity in at least the heel portion, the sole being resiliently deformable to vary the internal volume of the cavity, the improvement which comprises: a valving opening for the enclosed air containing cavity; the valving opening being closed on application of a wearers weight to the heel portion and for opening the valve on removal of the wearers weight therefrom.

The main advantage of the present invention is that the operating advantages of having a pneumatically cushioned insole are obtained without the inherent disadvantages. This is achieved because the air is being continuously pumped into and out of the cavity in the sole or insole. There is therefore no consequent heating of the sole or insole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of an insole according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view along the lines IIII of FIG. I, and

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view, similar to that of FIG. 2 of a shoe according to the invention. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is provided a hollow resiliently deformable insole 1 of foamed thermoplastics material having a heel portion 2 and toe portion 3. The heel portion 2 is provided with a hole 4, in its upper part, in use.

This hole 4 operates as a valving opening for the enclosed air containing cavity as will be described hereinafter.

In use, the insole l is placed inside a boot or shoe with the hole 4 uppermost, the boot or shoe being worn by the wearer in the conventional way. When a person walks, the weight of the body is transferred alternately from the heel to the sole of the foot. Accordingly, when using a boot or shoe fitted with the insole l, as the wearer walks, his/her weight is transferred onto the heel portion 2 and then onto the toe portion 3 of the insole 1. When the weight of the heel of the wearer is pressed on the heel portion 2 the hole 4 is effectively closed and the weight of the wearer causes the insole l to compress and reduce the internal volume of the cavity until the internal pressure of the air in the cavity is balanced by the weight of the wearer. As the wearer walks his/her weight is transferred to the toe portion 3 of the insole thus removing his/her heel from close contact with the hole 4. Accordingly, air is allowed to escape out of or into the cavity and thus the insole 1 can resume its original shape. It will be appreciated that, since the insole l is made of a foamed thermoplastics material that the insole 1 will be readily deformed under the wearers weight.

Referring to FIG. 3 there is illustrated a shoe l0 having a conventional upper 11 and ground engaging sole portion 12. The interior portion of the sole of the shoe 10 is formed into an enclosed air containing cavity 13. The sole 12 has a heel porton l4 and a toe portion 15. The cavity 13 is formed by a moulding of a foamed thermoplastics material having side walls 16 and a lower wall 17 which are secured to a foot engaging upper wall 18 of leather board. A hole 19 is provided in the upper wall 18 adjacent the heel portion 14.

In use, the shoe operates in a manner similar to the insole l as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 except that only the side walls 16 are deformed under the wearers weight.

A suitable construction of shoe has the internal spac ing between the upper wall 18 and the lower wall 17 the same in both the heel portion 14 and the toe portion 15. A particularly suitable spacing is one-half inch. Similarly a thickness of one-half inch is suitable for the side walls 16.

It is envisaged that valving opening other than a hole in the upper part in use of the heel portion of the insole, shoe or boot, may be provided. For example it is envisaged that a suitable construction of valving opening and means for closing and opening the valving opening may comprise a hole and a flap of rigid material pivotally mounted over the hole.

It will be appreciated that the insole or portion of the sole of the shoe may be manufactured from any suitable elastic material such as foamed thermoplastics material, natural rubber, synthetic rubber and the like material so as to be resiliently deformable to vary the internal volume of the cavity. Further it will be appreciated that it is not necessary that all of the insole or of the hollow compressible body of the shoe be manufactured from such material but that sufficient of such material be used as to ensure that the insole or sole compresses the air contained in the cavity on the application of the wearers weight. A shoe or insole in which only the heel portion contains an enclosed air containing cavity performs satisfactorily in use. The use of some materials may require that insole reinforcing ribs or cushions be used between the upper wall and lower wall of the insole to prevent deformation of the insole after only a minimal usage.

It is envisaged that, when manufacturing a boot or shoe of resilient material by a moulding process, the features of the invention may be incorporated in the boot or shoe during the moulding process.

What is claimed is:

1. An insole, for a boot or shoe, having a heel portion, a toe portion and an enclosed air-containing cavity in at least the heel portion, the insole being resiliently deformable to vary the internal volume of the cavity, said insole being formed with a valving opening closed by a wearers foot on application of a wearers weight to the heel portion and being opened on removal of the wearers weight from the heel portion.

2. An insole as recited in claim 1 in which the enclosed air containing cavity extends into the toe portion.

3. An insole as recited in claim 1 in which the valving opening comprises a hole in the upper part, in use, of the heel portion.

4. An insole as recited in claim 2 in which the valving opening comprises a hole in the upper part, in use, of the heel portion.

5. An insole as recited in claim 1 in which at least a portion of the insole is constructed from elastic material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, and a foamed plastics material.

6. An insole as recited in claim 2 in which at least a portion of the insole is constructed from an elastic material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, and a foamed plastics material.

7. An insole as recited in claim 3 in which at least a portion of the insole is constructed from an elastic material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, and a foamed plastics material.

8. An insole as recited in claim 4 in which at least a portion of the insole is constructed from an elastic material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, and a foamed plastics material.

9. An insole as recited in claim 5 in which the upper surface, in use, of the insole is formed from a rigid material.

10. An insole as recited in claim 6 in which the upper surface, in use, of the insole is formed from a rigid material.

11. An insole as recited in claim 7 in which the upper surface, in use, of the insole is formed from a rigid material.

12. An insole as recited in claim 8 in which the upper surface, in use, of the insole is formed from a rigid material.

13. A boot or shoe having a sole, the sole having a heel portion, a toe portion and an enclosed aircontaining cavity in at least the heel portion, the sole being resiliently deformable to vary the internal volume of the cavity, the sole being formed with a valving opening closed by a wearer's foot on application of a wearer's weight to the heel portion and being opened on removal of the wearers weight from the heel portion.

14. A shoe as recited in claim 13 in which the enclosed air containing cavity extends into the toe portion.

15. A shoe as recited in claim 13 in which the valving opening comprises a hole in the upper part, in use, of the heel portion.

16. A Shoe as recited in claim 14 in which the valving opening comprises a hole in the uppper part, in use, of the heel portion.

17. A shoe as recited in 13 in which at least a portion of the sole is constructed from an elastic material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber and a foamed plastics material.

18. A shoe as recited in claim 14 in which at least a portion of the sole is formed from an elastic material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber and a foamed plastics material.

19. A shoe as recited in claim 15 in which at least a portion of the sole is formed from an elastic material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber and a foamed plastics material.

20. A shoe as recited in claim 16 in which at least a portion of the sole is formed from an elastic material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber and a foamed plastics material. 1

21. A shoe as recited in claim 17 in which the upper surface, in use, of the sole is formed from a rigid material.

22. A shoe as recited in claim 18 in which the upper, in use, of the sole is formed from a rigid material.

23. A shoe as recited in claim 19 in which the upper surface, in use, of the sole is formed from a rigid material.

24. A shoe as recited in claim 20 in which the upper surface, in use, of the sole is formed from a rigid material. 

1. An insole, for a boot or shoe, having a heel portion, a toe portion and an enclosed air-containing cavity in at least the heel portion, the insole being resiliently deformable to vary the internal volume of the cavity, said insole being formed with a valving opening closed by a wearer''s foot on application of a wearer''s weight to the heel portion and being opened on removal of the wearer''s weight from the heel portion.
 2. An insole as recited in claim 1 in which the enclosed air containing cavity extends into the toe portion.
 3. An insole as recited in claim 1 in which the valving opening comprises a hole in the upper part, in use, of the heel portion.
 4. An insole as recited in claim 2 in which the valving opening comprises a hole in the upper part, in use, of the heel portion.
 5. An insole as recited in claim 1 in which at least a portion of the insole is constructed from elastic material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, and a foamed plastics material.
 6. An insole as recited in claim 2 in which at least a portion of the insole is constructed from an elastic material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, and a foamed plastics material.
 7. An insole as recited in claim 3 in which at least a portion of the insole is constructed from an elastic material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, and a foamed plastics material.
 8. An insole as recited in claim 4 in which at least a portion of the insole is constructed from an elastic material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, and a foamed plastics material.
 9. An insole as recited in claim 5 in which the upper surface, in use, of the insole is formed from a rigid material.
 10. An insole as recited in claim 6 in which the upper surface, in use, of the insole is formed from a rigid material.
 11. An insole as recited in claim 7 in which the upper surface, in use, of the insole is formed from a rigid material.
 12. An insole as recited in claim 8 in which the upper surface, in use, of the insole is formed from a rigid material.
 13. A boot or shoe having a sole, the sole having a heel portion, a toe portion and an enclosed air-containing cavity in at least the heel portion, the sole being resiliently deformable to vary the internal volume of the cavity, the sole being formed with a valving opening closed by a wearer''s foot on application of a wearer''s weight to the heel portion and being opened on removal of the wearer''s weight from the heel portion.
 14. A shoe as recited in claim 13 in which the enclosed air containing cavity extends into the toe portion.
 15. A shoe as recited in claim 13 in which the valving opening comprises a hole in the upper part, in use, of the heel portion.
 16. A Shoe as recited in claim 14 in which the valving opening comprises a hole in the uppper part, in use, of the heel portion.
 17. A shoe as recited in 13 in which at least a portion of the sole is constructed from an elastic material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber and a foamed plastics material.
 18. A shoe as recited in claim 14 in which at least a portion of the sole is formed from an elastic material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber and a foamed plastics material.
 19. A shoe as recited in claim 15 in which at least a portion of the sole is formed from an elastic material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber and a foamed plastics material.
 20. A shoe as recited in claim 16 in which at least a portion of the sole is formed from an elastic material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber and a foamed plastics material.
 21. A shoe as recited in claim 17 in which the upper surface, in use, of the sole is formed from a rigid material.
 22. A shoe as recIted in claim 18 in which the upper, in use, of the sole is formed from a rigid material.
 23. A shoe as recited in claim 19 in which the upper surface, in use, of the sole is formed from a rigid material.
 24. A shoe as recited in claim 20 in which the upper surface, in use, of the sole is formed from a rigid material. 